Apparatus for instruction in the use of firearms



' March 5, 1946.

S. D. MARTIN APPARATUS FOR INSTRUCTION IN THE USE OF FIREARMS Filed Dec. 28, 1945 .2 Sheets-Sheet Marh 5, 1946.

APPARATUS FOR INSTRUCTION IN THE USE OF FIREARMS 2 Sheet-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 28, 1943 I IN VTIN T01 BY v Patented Mar. 5, 1946 UNITED STATES" "PATENT i was I 2,396,017 I APPARATUS For: iNs'rRUcTIoN 1N ri'liru'sii oF FIREARMS Stanley D. Martin, Waltham, Mass. Application December 28, 194a swam. $515,916

tions. However, so far as I know the fundamental principles of markmanshipihaveheretofore been imparted to the student largely through verbal or written instructions. Q

My invention has for its object to provide an apparatus for use by individuals in acquiring the knowledge and skill respecting the handling and use of firearms that are essential to good markmanship. V

It is also an object of this invention to provide an apparatus of the kind referred to by means of which a student or beginner may give himself practice in aiming and correct triggerpulling after having acquired an understanding of the mode of using the apparatus.

To these ends I have provided an apparatus of the character described which, in its preferred form, may be constructed and used as set forth in the following description, although it is to be understood that modifications thereof are in-- tended to be included within the scope of the appended claims by which latter the several nov l features of the invention are defined.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of an apparatus for use in instructing individuals in the use of firearms, said apparatus being constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the target forming part of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1,.

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevation, partly broken away, of the firearm forming part of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is an end View of the muzzle of the barrel of the firearm shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

' The illustrated embodiment ofthis invention includes a target structure that is indicatedgenerally at It); a firearm ll herein shown as a rifie; an indicator-operating bare electric conductor l2 consisting of an elongate flexible strand of wireconnecting the firearm H with target structure l; two visual signals 13 and l l which may, for convenience, be mounted uponthe target structure in where they are within the range-of vision of the individual using the apparatus; an indicator instrument 8 that is operated by the wire l2 and which includes a pointer 22 that is also within the range of vision of the individual using the apparatus; an certain electric circuits presently to be described. The target structure I0 ;a of wood or other non-conducting material, said panel being provided with legs by which is supported in an upright poSition from the floor or ground facing the firearm -U; 1 I Tne visual signals 13 and 1 4 areelectrio incandescent lamps provided, respectively, with a ,10 -white :bulb and a red bulb, the sockets of said .lampsbeing fastened in position upon the front side of panel l5. 7 I

Directly below the two lamps the front face of panel I5 is provided with the representation 5 .ol the concentric rings'of a target as shown at e H, Fig. 2, and at the center or bulls-eye thereof the panelis made witha hole I 8 through which wire 12 extends, From the hole l8 wire l 2 passes around a metal pulley 1.9 and thence downward 0 1y around asheave below which itis provided at its extremity with .a weight 2| The opposite end of the wire l'l is fastenedat 23 to, but insulated from, the top side of thebreech of firearm immediately in front of the rear, sight fl 5 of the latter.

The front sight of the firearm I an apertured metal memberl herein shown as @a ring welded or otherwise fastened in position upon the top side of the barrel 9 adjacent to the muzzle thereof and disposed in a plane that is per pendicular and at right angles to the axis of the barrel, As .shown'i'n the drawings thelwire 12 extends through the aperture of this ring.-

The sheave 2c of the target fast upon one endof a shaft 2 journaled in ,a bearing secured :to the'rear :sideof panel [5. This shaftextend-S through the panel 15 and has fast upon its opposite front end'a pointer 22 co -operatively asso- "ciated with a circular dial of numbers :6 that is concentric withshaft 2| and provided upon the frontface ofthe panel l5. It will thus ebe clearthat endwise displacement of the firearm I 1;, while the latter is held in firing position with .wire 12 taut, will actthrough vsaid wire to rotate .45 sheave 21] and shaft 21 therebyaadlust n pointer .50 a direction away from the target the pointer- ,22

will :be angular-1y adjusted contra-clockwise I The pulley I9 is rotatably'supported by a metal bracket 24 mounted upon" the rear side of panel 15 and this bracket is connected by a conductor '25 with one of theterminals-of red lamp 44 whose other terminal is connected by .a conductor 26 with the positive wire of a-current-supplying circuit 21.

One of the terminals of white lamp I3 is connected by a lead 28 with the conductor 26, while h r n the other terminal of said lamp is connected by a conductor 29 with a spring contact 30 secured to, but insulated from, the under side of the firearm II: immediately back of the trigger 3| of the latter One end of a conductor 32 is electrically connected at 33 to the under side of the barrel 9 of firearm II, while the opposite end of said conductor 32 is connected with the negative wire of circuit 21.

It will thus be clear that when the trigger 3I is pulled rearwardly it will engage spring contact 30 thereby closing the circuit through white lamp I3, said circuit being traced as follows: From the positive wire of circuit 21 through conductor 26, lead 28, lamp I3, conductor 29, spring contact 39, trigger 3|, the barrel 9, and wire 32 to the negative wire of circuit 21.

When, during the handling of the firearm II, th bare conductor wire I2 contacts the front sight ring 4 a circuit is completed through the red lamp I4 which is traced as follows: From the positive wire of circuit 27 through wire 26, red lamp I4, conductor 25, bracket 24, pulley I9, wire I2, ring 4, barrel 9 and conductor 32 to the negative wire of circuit 21. V

The basic principles underlying all good shooting are to let the bones of the marksmans body carry the weight of the firearm as much as possible without muscular effort; to allow the flexible muscles to absorb the shockof the recoil; to squeeze the trigger smoothly and steadily by exerting controlled pressure thereon with the forefinger without movement of other hand or arm muscles and while gripping the small of the stock firmly but not tightly, since sudden movement accompanying a jerk upon the trigger will displace the firearm endwise and laterally and move the sights out of line and cause a miss; and to avoid swaying of the firearm.

The above described apparatus is especially designed for use in practising these fundamental principles and during its use the marksman points the gun toward the target and assumes a position I Where the wire I2 is taut and maintains the pointer 22 upon the zero point of the dial 23 with the barrel 9 aimed at the bulls-eye of the target while he pulls the trigger. As long as the firearmis thus maintained pointed toward the bull'seye, and until the trigger is operated, the pointer 22 will remain at zero, both lamps I3 and I4 will beextinguished, and wire I2 will occupy a position at the center of the circular front sight 4 or approximatel so. Now, if the trigger 3| is operated properly this condition of the apparatus will continue to prevail with the exception that white light I3 alone will be illuminated. 'If, however, the trigger is operated by a jerk of the forefinger, or otherwise than as above prescribed, so as to cause endwise displacement of the firearm, this fact will be shown at the target through angular displacement of the pointer 22. Or, if through faulty operation of the trigger, or otherwise, the firearm is caused or permitted to sway laterally in any direction the contact of Wire I2 with the circular front sight 4 will result in illumination of red lamp I4 and it i possible for this to occur while white lamp I3 is also illuminated. Thus, proper use of the above described apparatus by the student is possible only when the firearm is held and fired properly and in accordance with the principles outlined above.

' weight 5 is effective to maintain straight and taut that portion of the conductor which connects the firearm with the target.

What I claim is:

1. An apparatus of the character described comprising a fixed upstanding target having a hole formed through the center of the bulls-eye thereof; a firearm to be held and operated by a person located in front of said target and spaced away from the latter; an indicator device supported within range of vision of said person, and indicator-operating means including an elongate flexible strand whereof one end is connected with the exterior of said firearm and the opposite end portion extends through said hole and is connected with said indicator device and through which endwise displacement of the firearm while the trigger of the latter is being actuated by said person acts to operate said indicator, said strand being coincident with the line of sight when said firearm is aimed at said bulls-eye.

2. An apparatus of the character described constructed in accordance with claim 1 and wherein said indicator device comprises a rotatably supported shaft, a pointer fixed to one end of said shaft and co-operatively associated with a fixed index, and meansconnecting the opposite end of said shaft with said flexible strand.

3. An apparatus of the character described constructed in accordance with claim 1 and wherein said indicator device comprises a rotatably supported shaft, a pointer carried by said shaft in front of said target, means connecting the opposite end of said shaft with said strand so that endwise movement of the latter in one direction adjusts said shaft and pointer angularly in one direction, and means for yieldingly urging said strand, said shaft and said pointer in the opposite direction.

4. An apparatus of the character described constructed in accordance with claim' 1 and wherein said elongate strand is a metal wire conductor whereof the end that is connected with said firearm is insulated fro-m the metal parts of the latter, and wherein said apparatus also includes two electrically operated signal instruments supported in fixed positions adjacent to said target, a normally open circuit for one of said instruments including the trigger of said firearm, said strand, and a fixed contact mounted on said firearm in position to be engaged by said trigger when the latter is operated thereby to close said circuit, and a normally open circuit for the other of said instruments including said strand, the front sight and the barrel of said firearm, said front sight being circular and surrounding, but normally out of contact with, said strand but adapted to contact the latter thereby toclose said last-mentioned circuit when the muzzle of the barrel is displaced laterally while aiming the firearm;

' STANLEY D. MARTIN. 

